La La Land is a film about love, dream, and loss. You could say it was American. But then a lot of cultures in the global market wish for the same things. In the film two people push each other to fulfil their artistic ambitions, fall in love, then part when those ambitions take them on different paths. But is it just La La Land?

To decipher the film’s messages is tricky. The message on dreams is that you have to believe in yourself and go for it. On love – that it is easier but sometimes will not fit the path to your dreams, but love will never die. The love lost in the pursuit of your dreams, will always remain a loss. Even if your life is satisfying and happy. Being a film it only shows the extremes of the experience. The gain and the loss. Nothing in between.

One argument is that art is fantasy to take us away from reality. While watching a film we escape the mundane. That is all it is. Can art teach us anything? More to the point we learn and teach ourselves how to live, through art that might not be there to teach us anything. Art influences us how to live our lives by watching character and plot of our fellow humans. In whatever medium any learning is legitimate.

One of the messages is that potential is realisable you just have to take the risk. Living in a wealthy country helps. Time to dream rather then exist might be a luxury? Getting the most out of yourself is laudable. But exploiting your potential could be interpreted as you are not good enough, you have to change. The tension between self expression and exploiting your potential is difficult to hold. It is arguable which side the film is on.

Another message is that special love doesn’t fade, and doesn’t change over time. The passage of time, and events of marriage and family make no impact on the endurance of this love. The rawness of the loss is everlasting. Nothing can change it. Is the message give up your dream for love? Can only one person pursue their dream, while the other has to support it?

Whatever the message, don’t take it at face value. Be a philosophical Skeptic.

Copyright Adrian Scott North London Counsellor Blog 2017
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Disclaimer:This weblog is the view of the writer and for general information only.
This article is designed to provoke argument and critique